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Started By
Message
How to Fix Muddy Back Yard Cheap?
Posted on 3/12/14 at 6:58 am
Posted on 3/12/14 at 6:58 am
I live in a small house with a small, fenced back yard. The back yard is very shaded, so grass doesn't grow that well back there to begin with. Then, added on top of that, we have two dogs that go out frequently. Those two things combined make for a muddy mess. And that means the dogs are a muddy mess. And that means the utility room where we let them in to dry off is a muddy mess.
I really don't think grass is a good plan. The doberman runs around the fence on patrol every time he goes out and keeps trails worn everywhere. I'm thinking something like mulch, sand, or gravel. I really don't care how it looks. Anything will be better than a mud pit.
Let's hear your solutions.
I really don't think grass is a good plan. The doberman runs around the fence on patrol every time he goes out and keeps trails worn everywhere. I'm thinking something like mulch, sand, or gravel. I really don't care how it looks. Anything will be better than a mud pit.
Let's hear your solutions.
6
Posted on 3/12/14 at 6:59 am to Teague
Sand first.
Then perhaps some gravel.
Some grass can stand up to shade and heavy traffic, just gotta let it establish but it may not be cheap
Then perhaps some gravel.
Some grass can stand up to shade and heavy traffic, just gotta let it establish but it may not be cheap
Posted on 3/12/14 at 7:17 am to Teague
pave the whole thing
Posted on 3/12/14 at 7:31 am to Teague
Put in fake grass.
Posted on 3/12/14 at 7:39 am to AUCE05
Posted on 3/12/14 at 7:41 am to Teague
I filled in a 30' x 16' square under my oak tree with riverstones after growing grass failed twice. Couldn't be happier and my kids love to throw the rocks at each other
ETA: You will need to install some kind of border to hold the rocks in. Mine is bordered on one side by a sidewalk, one a flowerbed and one my outdoor kitchen slab. I put in metal flowerbed edging on the fourth side at a fence line to keep them from going under the fence.
ETA: You will need to install some kind of border to hold the rocks in. Mine is bordered on one side by a sidewalk, one a flowerbed and one my outdoor kitchen slab. I put in metal flowerbed edging on the fourth side at a fence line to keep them from going under the fence.
This post was edited on 3/12/14 at 7:45 am
Posted on 3/12/14 at 7:51 am to Teague
Ultimately if you don't have any grass your yard is going to be muddy unless you landscape it heavily or you fill it with rocks. That's my understanding anyway. I have the same problem with the complete shade btw.
I'm about to buy a rope saw to cut down some limbs around my yard. It should help the grass. Fertilizing might help as well. Once you get those two things taken care of, you can pick some st aug runners from other sections of your yard (or someone else's) and stick them in the ground to try and get a base going. You may have to section off parts of your yard to get the grass started this way. This whole plan sounds like a pain in the arse, I know.
Cheap, fast, good. You can only pick two.
I'm about to buy a rope saw to cut down some limbs around my yard. It should help the grass. Fertilizing might help as well. Once you get those two things taken care of, you can pick some st aug runners from other sections of your yard (or someone else's) and stick them in the ground to try and get a base going. You may have to section off parts of your yard to get the grass started this way. This whole plan sounds like a pain in the arse, I know.
Cheap, fast, good. You can only pick two.
Posted on 3/12/14 at 8:14 am to Teague
I have the same problem. Maybe about half an acre back there, with a patio and the rest is fenced in. The problem is whenever it rains, it takes forever for it to dry up. See because it's been sunny with NO RAIN for about the last 3-4, maybe 5 days and it's STILL muddy back there. The mud only stays by the concrete though, it drys up pretty quickly everywhere else. Was wondering what all I could do to fix it.
Posted on 3/12/14 at 8:22 am to Camo Tiger 337
I also have been working on a way to get the water to drain better from under my house and subsequently from the yard. I may be installing a french drain this summer.
Have you looked at your drainage? Is there any way to get the yard to drain better (aside from piling a bunch of dirt up on it)?
Have you looked at your drainage? Is there any way to get the yard to drain better (aside from piling a bunch of dirt up on it)?
Posted on 3/12/14 at 8:27 am to gorillacoco
Sand with gravel on top. Any kind of mud/sand will be messy when it rains.
Posted on 3/12/14 at 8:37 am to gorillacoco
I really don't have a problem with drainage. The yard is slightly sloped and it dries reasonably quickly. It's just that it stays bare, so anytime it rains, the bare dirt turns to mud. In the summer it's dust.
I guess I'll look into some combination of sand and gravel.
I guess I'll look into some combination of sand and gravel.
Posted on 3/12/14 at 9:00 am to Teague
That may be my problem right. When the house was bought, the people informed us of the uneven yard and not to worry because just about everyone in the neighborhood has them, meaning the yard is sloped in a few places. Potholes I guess you can call them. Would that have any affect on it?
Posted on 3/12/14 at 9:01 am to Teague
My doberman has my backyard torn up as well. I am tied of wiping feet before he comes inside. I plan to try grass again
Posted on 3/12/14 at 9:15 am to HeadyMurphey
My dogs do the same.
Currently planting invasive ground cover.
And dumping tons of flower seed and mint of the barespots.
Hopefully it takes off.
Currently planting invasive ground cover.
And dumping tons of flower seed and mint of the barespots.
Hopefully it takes off.
Posted on 3/12/14 at 9:26 am to SuzukiGoat
In the same situation. I'm currently getting my builder to bring in a surveyor. Likely I will make them fix that shite before I do anything. I've been able to get them to do a lot of stuff. 
I plan on putting gutters up. I may put a little gravel garden on the sides of my patio since there is no sunlight there.
I plan on putting gutters up. I may put a little gravel garden on the sides of my patio since there is no sunlight there.
This post was edited on 3/12/14 at 9:27 am
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